What started as a “what if?” dream, materialized via a Kickstarter program, gained traction thanks to a series of pop-up events, and then received a healthy dose of juice from the food pubs, finally opened its doors last Sunday morning, an appropriate time for a restaurant named Yolklore to hold its Grand Opening. And what better location for a diner-esque joint than Watson Road (the former Route 66), historic address to scores of the genre?

Yolklore is owned by three restaurant veterans—husband and wife team Mary and John Bogacki, and Billy Oziransky.

The trio enlisted the services of Almanac to develop the name and the brand. Yolklore was chosen as “a name worthy of the fare… a bright color palette, folk art inspired illustrations and a sea of patterns ensures that Yolklore lives up to its tagline: “legendary breakfast’”.

A page on Almanac’s website elaborates that “Yolklore is the perfect moniker for a place that makes heroes of food.” And it’s always fun to hear about “other options that didn’t make the cut: Son of a Biscuit, Cocked, Hell to Breakfast, Bite & Bolt, Whistlin’ Biscuit.”

Names aside, here’s why we like the place:

1). The Team — The three partners (below) are all owner-operators, each with their own area of expertise. The group feels the extra hands are critical to the success of Yolklore, as it allows for a bit of family time that will keep them all balanced.

2). Speed — It's hard to argue with a fast casual breakfast spot where they call your name within five minutes. There’s a drive thru, too, which is nearly as fast: Oziranksy says the original concept was going to be a food truck, so super quick service was a focal point from the start.

Quality — All the baked goods—breads, biscuits, pastries—are made in house, as are the pork and chorizo sausage. The bacon, one of the few items not made in the scratch kitchen, is as good as any in town. Eggs come from Buttonwood Farm, the flour from nearby Hodgson Mill, the pr0duce from Such and Such Farm. Mary Bocacki says “if we have to take a little hit to utilize the local suppliers, so be it.”

Coffee Program —At Yolklore, when customers join the coffee club ($5/month), they receive a free mug, get to hang it on the wall, and receive bottomless coffee for a buck every time they come in, a helluva deal considering the java comes from Dubuque Coffee Company. (Those unfamiliar with the newish St. Louis-based coffee roaster should read about it here.)

Value — All 11 entrees are priced under the magic number of $10. A la carte items (smashed potatoes, bacon, ham steak, a cup of chili, etc.) are $2-3. Desserts and morning pastries are priced the same.